New Blog for Nathanael

We recently started fundraising with COTA to cover Nathanael's medical expenses, so updates about him will be on his new blog from now on: www.COTAforNathanaelB.com. Please check out the blog, pictures, and opportunities to help, and feel free to pass along the link to others. We appreciate your concern!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Today I am thankful...

Lately I have been thinking of what life used to be, in the early days post-transplant, and I've been reflecting on how thankful I am to NOT have to deal with many things that were once commonplace.

Today I am thankful...

...that washed laundry on the way to the dryer does not need to be re-washed if it lands on the floor.
...that tube-feeding overnight (and waking up every 3 hours to put more milk in the bag, then re-programming the pump, all while trying not to wake a sleeping baby) is a thing of the past.
...that we no longer have doctor/hospital visits 2-3 days a week, but sometimes only once a month!
...that it has been 8 months since the last time I stuck a needle into my baby for a subcutaneous injection (which we did once a week for about 8 months after his central lines were removed).
...that it has been 15 months since Nathanael's central lines were removed, and therefore our last cap and dressing change (a complicated, sterile procedure done weekly at home with the help of a home health nurse, where he would often scream for 15-30 minutes) was at least that long ago.
...that we no longer keep any distance between Jamison and Nathanael, as we did while Nathanael was still immuno-compromised.  Today I only need to separate them for fighting!
...that we don't have to bleach all of his toys regularly, and that he can now pick up food off the floor and eat it!
...that I don't need to change clothes after being around other people or in public places.
...that the boys now go WITH me wherever I go, and can hug people, play with other kids, and not worry about using hand sanitizer all the time.
...that the only "medicines" I give on a regular basis are Elderberry syrup, Lithy Tree extract, vitamin D drops, and vitamin C.  (Several of those are only really needed during cold/flu season, and Nathanael LIKES them, so there's no holding him down to get them in!)
...that I'm often found without hand sanitizer or Wet Ones (antibacterial) anywhere near me, even when they would be useful!

Exploring Erwin Park with friends
Precious little boys









I'm sure I'll think of more of these as time goes on...I was just thinking of them, and wanted to share just a few of the ways God has blessed us in recent months.  

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Fall Fun

We like our trike!

Halloween fun with friends
My little dinosaur and shark


"Let's get that seat belt buckled."

"I love this!"



Playing at the park near our house

Riding the trike on the splash pad

"Now, how do I make a call?

"Hello?  Can you hear me?"

Add caption

"Look, Mom, greenish, mixed-up play-dough!"









More fun on the trike - check out Nathanael's smile!

"Wow...this is harder than I thought it would be!"



Caught red handed...but what are they eating?

Pushing the shopping cart together



No, he's not supposed to be opening the utensil drawer...

...or putting a shampoo bottle in his mouth...

Raking leaves in the front yard


Mama's little helper

He had so much fun!







Someone likes to wash his own hands...

...playing with the soap...

...and grinning the whole time!


Running around at DTS

Playing on campus during a visit to Dallas Seminary


Playing with the outdoor umbrella together

Sunday, December 25, 2011

On the road AGAIN?!

With Uncle Jeff at Batelle in Columbus















At the end of October, all four of us once again piled into the car for a long road trip to Ohio to see Nathanael's doctor for his TWO YEAR post-transplant check-up.  (Can you believe that November 23 was the two-year anniversary?)  We took advantage of the fact that we would already be pretty far north to make visits to my family, including a trip to Wisconsin, where my parents and several of my cousins live.

In no particular order, here are some photo-highlights of our trip.  I LOVED seeing my boys meet and play with their cousins and other relatives.  It was such a great reminder of how blessed we are with a loving family, and boys healthy enough to be out and around everyone.

I should mention that we had a GREAT check-up with Nathanael's doctor, and even got to see a few of the nurses who worked with him during our inpatient stay.  We LOVE our medical team!  All news was good, and apart from orders to follow-up with our endocrinologists in Dallas, we were dismissed until sometime next year!  


Waiting with Daddy at Cincinnati Children's



Watching the fish with H
Hanging out with "Miss Ruth"





Nathanael making himself at home in our hotel room

Jamison helping set up the Pack N Play

Playing with Pop Pop George...

...and Nanny Bonnie




Both boys loved riding the lawn mower!










We had family come over to celebrate my dad's birthday

Nathanael (2 yrs) and L (3 yrs)

Jamison loved playing outside with S (7 yrs)



D (18 mos) and Nathanael 

Nathanael loved running around my parents' yard





My little Packer fans at Aunt Tera & Uncle Kevin's house

Discovering a Sit 'n Spin for the first time...he loved it!

M (8 yrs) helped him spin

Nathanael with S (7 yrs) on her birthday





Nathanael with Aunt Katie...

...having fun and being silly...

...and laughing a LOT...

...such fun!



Aunt Katie, Nathanael, and Nanny Bonnie

M, & S with our boys on S's birthday

Our little guys insisted on sitting on bar stools in my parents' kitchen




Snuggle time with Pop Pop George - two Packer fans! 



Our boys with my parents, just before we left for Ohio

Clowning around with Nanny Bonnie and a hat and wig

Jamison stretching his legs at a rest stop



Nathanael loved drawing on his new doodle pad

All the first cousins together!


George, Jamison & Nathanael played together all morning

Saying "good-bye" to Uncle Guy

Playing with T & T in Cincinnati